Orestes and Other Plays

by Euripides Book 12 in the Penguin Classics: Ancient World series.

First published 2009

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Ion follows a young servant at Apollo’s sanctuary in Delphi who is drawn into a dispute over parentage when Creusa and Xuthus seek an heir. Orestes begins after the killing of Clytemnestra, as Orestes and Electra face execution and attempt to force help from Menelaus by threatening Helen and Hermione.

The Phoenician Women returns to Thebes, where Jocasta tries to reconcile Eteocles and Polynices before their struggle for Oedipus’s throne becomes civil war. In The Suppliant Women, Adrastus and the bereaved mothers of the Seven appeal to Theseus after Thebes refuses burial to the Argive dead, placing mercy, civic duty and military force in direct conflict.

Historical Periods

Peloponnesian War431–404 BCE Greek Mythology and Heroic LegendMythic and archaic tradition Athenian Tragedy and the City Dionysia5th century BCE

Genres

Classical Literature Mythological Fiction War Fiction

Historical people

Agamemnon Menelaus Helen of Troy Eteoclesmythological figure Polynicesmythological figure Electra Orestes Euripidesc. 480s BCE–c. 400s BCE Theseusmythological figure Clytemnestramythological figure